Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories
Moreno Valley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,114 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Roanoke
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Roanoke
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.6%)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($162,000 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $941/mo less ($917 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $31,114/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$31,114
$82,637 vs $51,523/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
56% lower
272.5 vs 620.4 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$259k less
$162,000 vs $421,400
Roanoke
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 11 and Roanoke wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Moreno Valley to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $162,000 median home), income ($82,637 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Roanoke, VA are about 2,092 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.